ROCHESTER — After years with the Rochester School District, Spaulding High School Principal Robert Seaward is moving on to a new challenge.

Seaward's recent resignation is effective at the end of this school year. Next year, he will be the principal of Winnisquam Regional Middle School in Tilton.“I'm very excited to get an opportunity to try that,” said Seaward. “It's a new challenge.”

Seaward has been the principal of Spaulding High School for the past three years. Before becoming principal, he was an assistant principal and deputy principal at the school. Previously, he taught social studies for six years, at Rochester Middle School and Spaulding High School.

“It's been a great experience,” said Seaward on Tuesday. “I've met so many amazing people.”

Over his past 12 years with the Rochester School District, Seaward said he's been fortunate to get to know the teachers, administrators, students, parents and community leaders in the city.

Seaward also noted the great number of changes that have taken place at Spaulding High School throughout his time as principal and administrator.

While he was principal, the school implemented a “discipline with dignity” system, which incorporates disciplinary strategies while disrupting education as little as possible. Aiming to reduce out-of-school suspensions, the school had implemented in-school suspension while he was principal.

Over the past several years, Spaulding High School implemented alternative pathways to graduation and changed the master scheduling system. More recently, the school transitioned to using a competency-based grading system.

“There's little that hasn't changed in the past six years,” said Seaward.

For Seaward, being principal of Winnisquam Regional Middle School means becoming the leader of a much smaller school. He said that while he has taught at a middle school level before, he has never served as a middle school administrator, and next year will be the start of a new challenge.According to Superintendent Michael Hopkins, the School District has already begun advertising for the open principal position at Spaulding High School, and initial interviews with the candidates will take place in upcoming weeks. Hopkins said the district is looking to hire the new principal before the next school year starts, ideally by May.

Seaward said he hopes for a seamless transition at Spaulding High School.

“I wish everyone in Rochester the very best,” he said.

The School Board is scheduled to accept Seaward's resignation on Thursday.